Three women are now facing misdemeanor trafficking with an inmate charges from an alleged incident that occurred at a center in downtown Scottsburg where GED classes are conducted.

Sheriff Dan McClain learned on June 18 that an attempt to pass items to a female inmate would occur during an evening GED class session. He conferred with Deputy Shawn Mayer about the situation after a jail officer found two small boxes in the facility’s restroom.

One of the boxes contained a few eye makeup items, rolling papers and loose tobacco. The items were replaced in the box and the box was left by officers in the restroom.

At 6 p.m. that evening, one of the female inmates, Tarin A. Cox, 24, was given permission to go to the restroom. Afterward, the facility was searched, and both boxes were found in the trash. Cox was escorted back to jail. During a search, she was found to have the makeup hidden in her underwear.

After further investigation, two other women were drawn into the matter, Melinda Kay Hollan, 39, Austin, and Andrea Rae Moore, 39, Scottsburg.

Hollan, who had recently been released on bail in another criminal matter, allegedly told Deputy Mayer that she attempted to get the items to Cox and Moore because the women “...were nice to me...” while she had been incarcerated. The tobacco was intended for Moore, she stated, according to the probable cause affidavit.

An arrest warrant was issued for Hollan on Tuesday, August 4. The other women appeared in Scott Superior Court on August 4, each entering a not guilty plea during initial hearings.

Senior Judge Nicholas South set an initial jury trial date of October 5 for both. Each has a bail of $10,000 by corporate surety bond or $1,000 cash.